Canvas Course Structure

The structure and presentation of content in online courses is a key contributor to student success. Thoughtful course design helps promote student learning by enabling students the ability to focus on learning.

The best course sites are those designed to be intuitive for students to navigate. This means that the structure and presentation of content is consistent across the course allowing students to easily locate and work through course requirements.

Courses that are poorly designed require students to spend valuable time trying to determine how to navigate the course site and how to progress through course requirements. This leads to student frustration that can create a barrier toward learning.

When you first access your Canvas course site, the first thing you will likely notice is the left-hand menu (referred to as the course navigation menu). All Canvas banner-created course sites have either the university template or a school-specific template applied to the course site. The course navigation menu and the course home page are part of the university or school-specific template and have been designed to provide consistency. 

Knowledge of the course navigation menu will better prepare you to determine where to add content as well as equip you to answer student questions and direct them to the appropriate information. This section below is an overview to guide your initial planning.

Below is a brief explanation of each course navigation menu title. The links accessible via the left-hand course navigation menu contain additional recommendations on effectively using specific content and delivery types within your Canvas site.

Canvas Course Menu.png

Home
Each Canvas course site A template (university or school-specific) is applied to each banner-create Canvas course site. The template provides an editable page for you to add a welcome message and student navigation tips.

  • Instructor Information
    From the course home page, provide students with your contact information and a brief bio. Be sure to complete all fields and attach a headshot photo of yourself. Include your "office hours" and set expectations for response times (i.e., I will respond within 48 hours to all emails). Click here Links to an external site. to view an example.
  • Student Resources
    From the course home page, an icon linking to online student resources includes learning resources, technical resources, information on campus services and support, academic integrity policy, and guidelines on netiquette and Zoom etiquette. Note: Direct new online students to Essentials in Online Learning at Duquesne Links to an external site. - an informative orientation to online learning. View the Student Resources information.

Announcements
The "Announcements" area is where you should post notifications and reminders for students, provide recaps, and introduce the start of new weeks or units.

Syllabus
Instructions have been added under the Syllabus area explaining how to upload a Word or PDF version of your Syllabus. Also, take advantage of the Course Summary option, which will display any assessment in the course.

Modules
Add modules for each week that includes weekly learning objectives, lectures, assigned readings, videos, links to learning activities and assessments, etc.

Qwickly Attendance
Use Qwickly Attendance to confirm students are attending your class. Qwickly Attendance can be used in face-to-face, hyflex, and online courses.

Assignments
Any assignments created under Modules will display under Assignments as well. These assignment submission types include Online, No Submissions, On Paper, or External Tools.

Discussions
Online courses commonly use discussion forums to foster instructor-to-student and student-to-student interaction. Create opportunities for meaningful discussion throughout the course to build your learning community and help students learn.

Quizzes
Any quizzes/tests created under Modules will display under Quizzes as well. Not all online courses utilize quizzes/test.

Grades
Direct students here to view their grades and assignment feedback that you have provided through the Gradebook.

Zoom Meetings
Zoom is Duquesne's web conferencing tool for holding real-time class sessions, virtual office hours, project meetings, and many more.

People
View the list of users in your Canvas course site.

SPOT Surveys
Student Perception of Teaching (SPOT) is Duquesne's survey tool which occurs at the end of the semester to gain valuable student feedback that can help you improve your teaching and update your course for future semesters.

Starfish
Starfish is Duquesne's retention tool to promote student success by communicating with students and tracking at-risk students.

Next, we'll explain how to set up Modules, a key component of any online course.